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Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes, Z136

Introduction

Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes is an early work, dating probably from around 1680, and one of nine settings that Purcell made of John Patrick’s paraphrases of psalms. The scoring is for four solo voices and the opening mood desolate in the extreme. A pleading, lone treble begins, his chromatic inflection on ‘O’ especially effective, setting the scene for a remarkable passage of four-part writing, ‘Pity my languishing estate’: the dropping chromaticism, augmented triads and overlapping vocal entries are unbearably tortured in their anguish, and there is no let-up with the increasingly extreme intervals to which Purcell sets the word ‘crush’. The bass briefly relieves the tension, but with the return of the two trebles, mournfully passing their ‘weary days in sighs and groans’, we are again in the depths of despair, graphically drowning ‘my bed and self in tears’, grief consuming the two boys in wonderfully intertwining vocal lines. But hope is at hand, and the two lower voices forcefully banish the ‘wicked foes’: the enemy turns away in confusion, the full ensemble celebrates the Lord hearing their prayers, and then rejoices in a final Alleluia.

'It is hard to speak too highly of this enterprise … much enjoyment to be had' (Gramophone)'the performances from The King’s Consort and its Choir, the Choir of New College and a starry line-up of soloists have such qualities of concentratio ...» More

Lord, I can suffer thy rebukes, When thou dost kindly me chastise; But thy fierce wrath I cannot bear; O, let not that against me rise. Pity my languishing estate; And those perplexities I feel While crushed by thy heavy hand, O, let thy gentler touches heal. Lord, for thy goodness’ sake, return, And save my life; for in the grave None can remember thee, nor thou Thankful acknowledgements canst have. See how I pass my weary days In sighs and groans, and when ‘tis night, I drown my bed and self in tears; My grief consumes and dims my sight. Depart, ye wicked foes; your hopes Are dashed; for this my mournful voice Will bring God nearer to my aid, When you come flocking to rejoice. The Lord hath heard my prayer; And those that gap’d upon me as their prey Will vex themselves at their defeat, And with confusion turn away. Alleluia.